The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-12-14
WHOLE NO. 1900.
The WaIIed-in Room.

a
which heIlied out from the window in
{ the baimy air Tcould see a patch Of blue
/ sky and tops Of trees bending lightly in
the breeze Where was l 1t ,emed
like long dream that had had my
head felt empty, my limbs ached, and
could not think.
/ The man gently lifted my head and
gave me few drors of some liquid,
which swallowed with ayidity
Well, Mr.. Furniss." he said, how do
YOU Eeele'
En-, what ," cried. Where am L."
You are in your house. my dear sir,
and We shall take good care of you Now
he added, replacing my hand on the pill
low, be quiet and 20 10 sleep
gazed at him a long time, and all at
once recognized DIR. Bertram, the cele-
brated specialist in insanity. Why was
| in DR.. Bertrim's hospital instead of in
my home, near Phoenix park, with my
books, my microscope around me2 His
hospital was for mad people l-and that
sister of charity, those vials, that bowl Of
ice-my God, must be mad But why?
How?
How long have I been here ," l ask
ed, after a time.
-Four weeks, Mr. Furniss. But you
mist be quiet, and sleep. Now, do not
try totdk."
The next morning was better, and
day by day improved
One evening the doctor, whom had
not seen during the day, seated himself
near my bed.
Well" said he, feeling my pulse, "you
are doing fimously. I'll have you out as
good as new in few days But you've
had close shave 1t has been one Of the
pret,iest eases of eerebal congestion
have ever handled-beautiful ease. Why
its wonder you are alive now. Tell me
how is your memery can you remember
what happened before you were brought
here ?"
Here is an exact transcript of my reel
tai as told it to DIR. Bertram, and later
to the magistrate
You know my passion for natural his
tory2 Well scarcely week passes that
do not go out into the country botanic
ing That day l went to Glaeneyin.
where ss you know. the marshy mead
ows are rich in curious plants. infusoria
and diatoms. | was returning, and was
almost in Dublin with my box full Of
rare specimens, when saw little girl,
certainly no more than FIVE OF six years
old. who was also alone CRYING as if her
little heart would break. could see that
the little one was lost spoke to her
kindly, and by dint Of promising her un-
limited bonbons. got her TO tell me that
her name was Lizzie, and that she lived
near Befesford place, in Lower Abbey
street took her by the han1and we
soon started off talking together like old
friends.
was received with transports by her
mother Never was gratitude expressed
50 heartily and pleasantly
Oh. Mr.. Furniss," said the mother,
you are the savior of my child. How
nappy my husband will be 10 repeat my
thanks to YOU. Will you do us a great
kindnes: VIII you honor our humble
board tomorrow ~
thanked her for the invitation and
promised to be on hand
AT the appointed hour was shown in
to their modest parlor, and you may be
sure the husbands gratitude WIS no less
warmly expressed than the wife's-
The dinner was merry one. In brief
| passed an excellent evening
The air had been heavy the whole day
and in the evening storm come on.
was about to start for home. however. for
it was late and my house was at some
distance, but they insisted that should
say. 1t would be foolish to expose my
self 10 such tempest when was not
feeling well the mother begged me with
such a good grace that felt forced to re-
main and pass the night in that hospita-
bic house. They tremendously eonduc-
ted me to nay room and there wished me
goodnight
felt as if ] should smother in the close
atmosphere Of the room. wanted TO
inhale a little Of the outside air. and in
spite of the roaring storm tried hard to
open the window. Ii was a false win
dow
thought ] would remove the chimney
screen; it was "A false chimney | rushed
to the door; it was locked Fear seized
me, and holding my breath. listened
The house was quiet; all seemed to be
asleep. Then inspected the room care
fully. straining my ears for the least :
sound On the floor. near the bed. !
noticed spot: il was bloOd-dried and 1
blackened blood shuddered. and a
cold sweat stood on my forehead Blood, /
why should there be blood there? And I
| saw that whole sea of blood must have (
been spilt them, for large space aronnd I
the the hard wooden floor had been 1
freshly scrubbed and scrared. All at I
once | eried out Under the bed had 4
seen "a man, stretched out, motionless 4
~ an overturned statute With trem- 4
bling hands touched the man. He did /
not move. With trembl ny hands seiz-
ed the man by the feet and drew him
forth he was dead His neck had been
cleanly cut, as with one cut Of razor,
and the head held to the trunk by a sien
der ligament.
thought should go mad But some
thing must be lne-the assassin might
come at any moment. | raised the body
to place il on the bed. ! made false
step and the liyid head turned, swung to
and fro for moment like hideoGs pen
dulum. and then detached from the
trunk. fell on the floor with dull sound.
With great difficulty introduced the de-
capitat,.d trunk between The sheets.
picked up the head and placed it on
PILLOW, like that Of sleeping man, and
having blown out the candle, slipped
under the b u.
l remained there in that awful fear
minutes, hours, months. years, centuries
Il do not know how long.
The door opened man stepped in
e-a..J x.~<..,,.